Hermione was sitting in the library trying to study. This had been the strangest school year. Her mind kept wandering to the events of the year, every horrible thing connected to Umbridge, the lies about Harry. So many things had changed…but changes aren’t always bad. There was the D.A. and…her secret. This thought made her smile and her mind drifted even further away from homework. Finally, deciding to accept the fact that she wasn’t going to get any studying done, she packed her school bag and left the library.

“Pssst...hey!”

A soft voice stopped her as she was on the way back to the Gryffindor common room.

“Hermione!” There was the whisper again, this time more emphatic. Hermione realized it was coming from the tapestry that was hanging on the wall to her right. As she moved closer to it, a hand came from behind the tapestry and pulled her past it, into a small hidden alcove. Immediately after the tapestry moved back into place, Hermione was caught up in an embrace that ended with a lingering kiss.

“Hi,” said a smiling Harry as the kiss ended.

“Hi.” Hermione was smiling as well. She rested her forehead against his.

“Did you get everything you needed in the library?”

“I did, thank you. This is a rather nice surprise,” she said happily.

“I’m glad you think so,” replied Harry. Then Hermione noticed that his expression became slightly more serious as he said, “I wish we didn’t have to keep meeting like this. We care about each other so much. Why can’t we tell anyone?” Hermione looked deeply into Harry’s brilliant green eyes. How could she have ever thought she could love anyone else? She needed him and he needed her. Since the first time they had kissed, Hermione knew she would love him forever.

“Harry, I think it is more fun this way. Very exciting.” She initiated another round of kissing that, in her opinion, was thoroughly enjoyable. “Besides,” she added when they had come up for air, “if no one else knows, then we can enjoy each other and we aren’t hurting anyone.”

“You mean we aren’t hurting Ron,” Harry said, and Hermione watched his face fall.

“Well…yes.” Hermione did not ever want to hurt Ron. Ron was their best friend. Normally that would mean he might be happy for them, but Hermione knew this wouldn’t be the case. She was aware that Ron had feelings for her, and up until a few months ago she thought she returned those feelings…yet it only took one magical moment with Harry to help her realize where her affections really lay. As unexpected as that first kiss had been, Hermione could not deny the impact it had on her.

“Harry, I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t know how we can possibly explain this to him without it going badly.” She watched as the expression on Harry’s face became even grimmer.

“Do you think I want to hurt him?” Harry said defensively. “I don’t! But if we continue like this, he’s going to find out somehow and I would rather he heard it from us. We should just do it and get it over with. How about this: ‘Ron, Hermione and I are in love with each other. We are so happy and we wanted you, our closest friend, to know.’” As Hermione listened to his words she longed for things to be that easy, but she knew that was not the case. She became frustrated because Harry did not seem to understand how delicate the situation was.

“Harry,” she said irritably, “we can’t just act like it would be no problem. Don’t you think he would feel betrayed?” From the look on his face, Hermione knew that he agreed with her. “Please, just give me a little more time to figure something out. I promise it won’t be much longer.” Hermione searched his face for a reaction and was pleased when she saw a small smile appear. She and Harry had been through so much together in the last five years; it still surprised her that they could have missed this connection for so long. She pulled him very close and put her arms tight around him. She buried her face in his chest and took a moment to breathe in his essence. Somehow they ended up kissing again, which was just fine with her.

Hermione heard the rustle of the tapestry moving. She pulled away from Harry in surprise, as light filled the small space.



Harry was bored. He was sitting in the common room with nothing to do but study, and he certainly wasn’t going to do that until he absolutely had to. Ron was off at Quidditch practice. Since Harry’s lifetime ban, as well as that of the Weasley twins, there was little point in watching the actual matches, let alone practice. Hermione had left for the library, saying something about needing some book or other. Hermione. She was the one bright spot in this whole awful school year. Harry decided there was no point just sitting around. He left with the thought that he would try to catch her as she walked back.

Harry waited behind the tapestry until he could hear footsteps. As he peaked carefully out from his hiding place, he saw her coming down the corridor.

“Pssst...hey!”

Harry didn’t want to risk speaking too loudly, but he wasn’t sure she had heard him.

“Hermione!” Harry whispered again with more force. He noticed that she paused and then moved toward the tapestry. When she got close enough, he reached out and pulled her in with him. He hugged her as tightly as possible, and the kiss that came next was amazing. It ended too soon for Harry’s liking.

“Hi,” said Harry, still holding her very close.

“Hi,” Hermione responded. Harry felt her lean forward so that their foreheads were touching. He was happy to see her beautiful smile.

“Did you get everything you needed in the library?”

“I did, thank you. This is a rather nice surprise.” Hermione gazed up at him, and Harry fell deeply into her brown eyes.

“I’m glad you think so.” He loved this. He loved the idea that he could feel this way about someone; feel this way about her. This was nothing like his experience with Cho. He would get nervous around her; he was always felt wrong-footed. He never seemed to do the right thing. With Hermione, it was different. He felt like he fit with her. Even when they disagreed, which they did, he could feel the bond between them. In the past he had assumed this connection was just their strong friendship, but now he knew better. It was this bond that had caused him to kiss her the first time. It was completely out of the blue, but after it had happened they both knew it was right. He loved that they had both finally realized how they felt about each other. He loved that she was his, and that he was free to touch her and kiss her. It was this last thought that caused his face to become more serious. They weren’t really free as long as they had to hide. “I wish we didn’t have to keep meeting like this. We care about each other so much. Why can’t we tell anyone?”

The look on Hermione’s face was playful. “Harry, I think it is more fun this way. Very exciting.” She kissed him passionately and he lost his train of thought. When they came up for air again, Hermione continued. “Besides, if no one else knows, then we can enjoy each other and we aren’t hurting anyone.” Harry regained his seriousness.

“You mean we aren’t hurting Ron.” This was the only part of their relationship that was a problem. What he and Hermione had together shouldn’t be tainted by anything.

“Well…yes.” Hermione replied and her face filled with sadness. “Harry, I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t know how we can possibly explain this to him without it going badly.” It wasn’t as if Harry didn’t care; Ron was his best friend. No matter what challenges they faced, he and Ron had come out friends. Was there no way that this could work out?

“Do you think I want to hurt him?” Harry said defensively. “I don’t! But, if we continue like this, he’s going to find out somehow and I would rather he heard it from us. We should just do it and get it over with. How about this: ‘Ron, Hermione and I are in love with each other. We are so happy and we wanted you, our closest friend, to know.’” Harry could see that Hermione was growing impatient and frustrated with him.

“Harry,” Hermione said irritably. “We can’t just act like it would be no problem. Don’t you think he would feel betrayed?” Harry knew deep down that she was right. If they told him, they could lose his friendship forever. Yet, he couldn’t just ignore his feelings for Hermione; it was acknowledging these feelings that had made him feel more whole than he had ever felt in his life.

“Please, just give me a little more time to figure something out,” Hermione pleaded. “I promise it won’t be much longer.” What could he say to that? He trusted her. If anyone had the chance of finding a way to fix this, it would be Hermione. He saw her eyes searching his face. He knew that she was looking for a sign that they were done with this topic. He let a small smile form on his lips and was surprised at the power it had to entirely change her facial expression. He felt her arms around him and she was pulling him to her. He held her close, enjoying the feel of her. This isn’t something to hide; this is how life should be. He did not know specifically how it happened, but he was happy to find himself kissing her again.

Suddenly Hermione pulled away from him as the alcove they were in became brighter. Harry realized this was because someone had just pulled back the tapestry.


A/N Thanks to my reluctant, but wonderful beta stabbim.